Gstaad Palace reaches the summit

24 Aug 2025

In this spectacular setting, nestled in the idyllic Swiss Alps, the 28^th edition of the Hublot Polo Gold Cup ended this Sunday with a final full of flair. Four Swiss players took to the field, including team captain Markus Graeff, who led Gstaad Palace to a memorable victory.

Two Swiss and two Argentinians on the podium at the Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad 2025: Markus and Thommy Graeff, Min Podestá and Francisco Fucci.© Justine Jacquemot / R&B Presse

At 1:30 p.m., the subsidiary final set the tone with open, fast-paced play between two teams determined to leave Gstaad on a positive note. Less tense than Saturday’s semifinals, the match unfolded in a spirit of true sportsmanship, with each team freely expressing their game.

Nicolás Pieres finds his rhythm

More comfortable on the field than in the semis, Nicolás Pieres (4 goals) found his rhythm and steered Team Kielder Agro Group to a narrow but meaningful 8–7 win over Adrian Laplacette Jr. (5 goals), ever inspired in his game reading.

“This was my first time in Gstaad and I hope it won’t be the last!” said the Argentine star after the match. “It’s just fabulous here, so beautiful… But the field is quite unique. To be honest, on the first day, I felt out of sorts;I couldn’t play my usual polo. But then I realized I had to play more directly. Now that I’ve adapted, if I come back next year, I promise I’ll play a very different game!”

The former 10-goaler will fly out to Buenos Aires tomorrow to prepare for the highlight of his season: the Argentine Open and the qualification of his Kazak team for the Triple Crown. “I’m pretty optimistic,” he adds. “It’s a team I really like, and this year with Pelón Stirling joining, I’m quite confident.”

Gstaad Palace: A family affair and a Podestá masterclass

The final started off cautiously, with players understandably showing a touch of nerves. But momentum quickly shifted in favor of Gstaad Palace, who took control and dominated throughout. Albinati Aeronautics struggled to break through a rock-solid defense orchestrated by Martin “Min” Podestá (7), with every teammate executing their role to perfection starting with captain Markus Graeff:

“It’s such a pleasure to play here. I’m the oldest player on the field at 73, and as far as I know, the next oldest is 20 years younger and most of them are between 20 and 30! I’m thrilled I could contribute… a little. I put this team together, and I’m proud of what we achieved. Playing here in Gstaad is wonderful. Each of my teammates played their part. I had my role to play, and I think I did it well. Like football, polo is a team sport. If I’m invited again next year, I’d be delighted to return.”

The captain’s son, Thommy Graeff, certainly did more than play his part, delighting the crowd with a stunning golaso

A winning pair: Min Podestá, best player in the final with his 9-year-old mare, Doma Simoca, best horse in the final. ©Justine Jacquemot / R&B Presse

Doma Simoca, queen of the day

No horses, no polo. Most players will tell you that 70% of their performance depends on their horse. For this tournament, Min Podestá brought six of his top horses from the UK. Among them, Doma Simoca, a nine-year-old grey mare, was awarded the Best Playing Pony of the Final.

And it wasn’t her first trophy: “She’s already won several BPPs, including in the Copa Cámara final and the playoff match for the Argentine Open,” explained Podestá, who was also named MVP (Best Player of the Final). “She’s generous, tireless — I can bring her back into the game two or three times without issue. She’s easy to ride and always gives her best.”

A touching tribute to an exceptional mare, bred at the prestigious La Irenita stud. For connoisseurs: she is by Clarín out of Irenita Nazarena, both outstanding polo horses in their own right.

A tournament like no other

There was something truly special about this Sunday in Gstaad. A kind of enchanted interlude where the noble toughness of polo met the gentleness of this alpine setting. Among the crowd were former team captains now returning as spectators and loyal attendees marveling once again at the beauty of the venue and the warm, relaxed atmosphere that defines the event.

This tournament is unique. And it owes much of its character to the man who has orchestrated it for the past twenty years: Pierre E. Genecand, a passionate and demanding host, loyal to his team and to a certain philosophy of event organization, blending Swiss precision, a love of sport, and heartfelt hospitality.

Thanks to him and to those who stand by his side, the Hublot Polo Gold Cup has become a one-of-a-kind stop on the global polo circuit: a top-level tournament in an idyllic mountain setting.

See you next year, from 20 to 23 August 2026.

TEAMS, SCORES & STATS

Subsidiary Final

Team Kielder Agro Group: Antonio Manzano (0, 1 goal) – Juan Pepa (2 penalty goals) – Bautista Bello (4, 1 goal) – Nicolás Pieres (8, 4 goals)
vs.
Team Hublot: Jürgen Schröder (0) – Antonio Grabosch (3) – Adrian Laplacette Jr. (6, 5 goals) – Juan Esteban Uribe (5)

Progression Kielder Agro Group: 1–2 / 4–3 / 6–6 / 8–7

Final

Team Gstaad Palace: Markus Graeff (0) – Thommy Graeff (3, 2 goals) – Martin Podestá Jr. (7, 4 goals) – Francisco Fucci (4, 1 goal)
vs.
Team Albinati Aeronautics: Luca Meier (1, 1 goal) – Patricio Gaynor (2) – Santiago Cernadas (7, 2 goals) – Fabian Bolanterio (4, 1 goal)

Progression Gstaad Palace: 1–0 / 3–1 / 6–3 / 7–4

Best Playing Pony: Doma Simoca, 9-year-old grey mare bred by La Irenita, ridden by Martin Podestá Jr.
MVP: Martin Podestá Jr.
Best Amateur Player of the Tournament: Juan Pepa, Kielder Agro Group
Top Scorer of the Tournament: Martin Podestá Jr. – 10 goals

Referees: Charles Seavill and Oliver Ellis

Two Fiery Semi-Finals Light Up Gstaad for the 27th Hublot Polo Gold Cup

23 Aug 2025

Unable to play on Thursday due to weather conditions, the 2025 Hublot Polo Gold Cup kicked off in spectacular style on Saturday. The tournament jumped straight into the semi-finals, taking over the perfectly dried and prepared grass field of Gstaad’s iconic airport. Under a welcome burst of sunshine and with four evenly matched teams (14-goal handicap), the tournament immediately reached full intensity. The crowd showed up in numbers to witness the finest polo in the Alps. The day’s verdict: Gstaad Palace and Albinati Aeronautics will battle it out for the title.

Min Podesta ultimately prevailed over the tournament’s top seed, Nico Pieres (in green).

© Pascal Renauldont / R&B Presse

Podestá’s Composure Outshines Pieres’ Prestige

The first semi-final lived up to its promise, with a fascinating clash of styles between two strong contenders. On one side, Team Gstaad Palace was orchestrated by a brilliant Martin Podestá Jr. (7), working in perfect sync with Swiss teammates Markus (0) and Thommy Graeff (3), and the efficient Francisco Fucci (4). On the other, Team Kielder Agro Group was led by the immensely experienced Nicolás Pieres (8), one of the most decorated players on the global circuit.

Gstaad Palace quickly took control, leading 5-2 going into the final chukker. Yet Podestá Jr., who scored a spectacular 50-meter golaso early on and netted all six goals for his team, remained cautious: “No match is ever easy. They had a strong line-up, including a former 10-goal player. We had a great start, but Nico Pieres is an exceptional player and Kielder came back strong, cutting our lead to one goal. We’ve played together at a similar tournament just last week, with the same players and horses. I brought my six best horses from the UK… But above all, Markus and Thommy did a great job and really helped us.”

His caution was justified. After scoring the first two goals for his team, Nicolás Pieres added three more in the last period. One more, and it would have gone to overtime. Bautista Bello came close to equalizing in the final seconds… but missed—breaking his mallet in frustration.

Albinati Aeronautics Triumphs in Overtime

Same final score, but a completely different storyline in the second semi-final, where Albinati Aeronautics, slightly behind for most of the game, pulled off a last-minute victory in extra time.“It was a very tough match; they had control for most of it,” admitted Santiago Cernadas, the team’s linchpin and scorer of the winning goal. “Our fouls really cost us, but in the end, it was on one of their own fouls in overtime that we clinched it.”

The decisive moment came from a smart play by the youngest player on the field, 16-year-old Swiss-Argentinian Patricio Gaynor, who drew a foul from seasoned opponent Adrian Laplacette: “He was unbelievable,” said Cernadas. “He knows how to hold the ball, make smart passes… really impressive.”

It was a last-minute lineup reshuffle for team captain Luca Meier (1), who had to make changes following several injuries, including his brother Fabio. But the chemistry between Cernadas (7), Gaynor (2), and Fabian Bolanterio (4) clicked perfectly. Meier will now return to the final for the second year in a row. Will this one be the charm?

Team Lineups & Score Progression

Semi-final 1

Team Gstaad Palace: Markus Graeff (0), Thommy Graeff (3), Martin Podestá Jr. (7 – 6 goals), Francisco Fucci (4)

Team Kielder Agro Group: Antonio Manzano (0), Juan Pepa (2), Bautista Bello (4), Nicolás Pieres (8 – 5 goals)

Score progression (Gstaad Palace): 1-1 / 2-1 / 5-2 / 6-5

Semi-final 2

Team Hublot: Jürgen Schröder (0 – 2 goals), Antonio Grabosch (3), Adrian Laplacette Jr. (6 – 3 goals), Juan Esteban Uribe (5)

Team Albinati Aeronautics: Luca Meier (1), Patricio Gaynor (2 – 1 goal), Santiago Cernadas (7 – 4 goals), Fabian Bolanterio (4 – 1 goal)

Score progression (Albinati Aeronautics): 2-2 / 3-2 / 4-5 / 5-5 / 6-5 (OT)

Saturday’s revelation: 16-year-old Patricio Gaynor did not hesitate to go into battle on Hublot’s pillar, Raul Laplacette, even provoking a decisive foul by the Argentine champion and securing victory for his team. © Pascal Renauldon / R&B Presse

Final Showdown This Sunday at 3:00 PM

The day’s winners will face off on Sunday in a highly anticipated final that promises to be explosive. At 1:30 PM, the match for third place will pit the two defeated semi-finalists against each other—each determined to end their campaign on a high note.

An event open to all, on site or remotely.

The Hublot Polo Gold Cup is open to the public throughout the weekend. An exhibitor village, catering areas and entertainment are planned to welcome young and old alike in a setting that is both chic and relaxed. So, see you at the grand final! Access to the tournament is free, and for those who cannot be there in person, it is possible to follow this prestigious tournament remotely.

Sunday’s finals will be broadcast live on Pololine TV

The scores will be posted in real time on ChukkerApp.

When Polo Grounds the Planes

18 Aug 2025

The countdown is on in Gstaad: in just two days, polo will once again take over the grassy runway of the resort town’s airport. As it has every summer for nearly three decades, the Hublot Polo Gold Cup is preparing to suspend traffic at this business airport to make way for a different kind of spectacle: that of some of the world’s finest players competing in an alpine setting where elegance meets sporting passion.

The tournament has secured its place on the international circuit thanks to a man who had already proven himself by revitalizing the Geneva International Horse Show: “Some events weren’t, or aren’t, organized the way I believe they should be,” explains Pierre E. Genecand, who has helmed the tournament for twenty years exactly. “That’s why I decided to do things my own way here in Gstaad, with a loyal team and a distinctly Swiss spirit that I have no intention of exporting.”

World-class polo on the airport grass

This pursuit of excellence extends to the sport itself. This year, each team will field a top-tier Argentine player, promising a spectacular level of play for the tournament’s 28th edition. “The highlight of this 2025 edition,” notes Genecand, “is the presence of a very high calibre of Argentine professionals across all teams, and that’s really the heart of the show.”

Leading the pack is Nicolás Pieres (8-goaler – Team KIELDER AGRO GROUP), the former back for the legendary Ellerstina team and one of the sport’s most decorated stars. Winner of the Argentine Open in 2012 alongside his brothers Gonzalito and Facundo, Pieres has played in eight finals at Palermo and boasts ten Triple Crown titles (Tortugas, Hurlingham, Palermo), not to mention victories at the US Open, the British Open, Sotogrande, and the French Open.

On the Team HUBLOT side, Adrian Laplacette (6-goaler) will be back in action after reaching last year’s final alongside the Meier brothers. Well at ease on Gstaad’s turf, he’ll be out for redemption on ground that feels like home, this year with German captain Jürgen Schröder.

Another standout this year is Martin “Min” Podestá Jr. (7-goaler – Team GSTAAD PALACE), a two-time winner of the prestigious Copa Cámara de Diputados – a title that grants access to the Argentine Triple Crown. Also in the mix, Juan “El Oreja” Jauretche (7-goaler – Team ALBINATI AERONAUTICS), a finalist of the same Cámara, rounds out a quartet of top-class talents that uphold the tournament’s stellar reputation.

Planes grounded, polo takes off.

While air traffic pauses during the matches, as the polo field sits directly beside the runway, an increasing number of the tournament’s partners now come from the private aviation sector. “We’ll have more exhibitor stands this year and more private aircraft and helicopter displays on site,” explains Pierre E. Genecand. A clear sign that the tournament, while staying true to its roots, continues to attract an ever more international and discerning audience.

The figurehead of the 28th edition of the Hubmot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad, Nico Pieres has won every major title on the planet, including ten victories in Argentina’s legendary Triple Crown. A legend in Gstaad! ©Pascal Renauldon/R&B Presse

An event for all: on-site or online

The Hublot Polo Gold Cup is open to the public throughout the weekend. An exhibitor village, food stands, and family-friendly activities await spectators in a setting that’s both chic and relaxed.

Don’t miss the team parade through the streets of Gstaad on Friday at 4:00 PM: a warm and festive moment where Swiss rural tradition meets the world’s oldest team sport.

Admission is free from Thursday onward, and those who can’t attend in person can still follow this prestigious tournament from afar:

Finals on Sunday streamed live on Pololine TV

Scores updated live on ChukkerApp